If you've ever had even a passing interest in the Jewish community of Kaifeng, China, you will find this article, describing the wedding in Israel of a descendant of that community to an American immigrant, of interest.

callao, that's not the only way you can read his remark; in any event I think by the time people get married they are usually past any "fetish" stage. They both look very happy and I think it's a wonderful story.

I was curious however about his statement, " I also thought that even if I had found a Jewish Chinese woman, the rabbinate would have never approved"-- is there some basis for his thinking that?

I was curious however about his statement, " I also thought that even if I had found a Jewish Chinese woman, the rabbinate would have never approved"-- is there some basis for his thinking that?

My guess is that he is thinking of the Beta Israel, the Ethiopian Jews, whom the Orthodox rabbinate were reluctant to consider Jews because they have been separated for so long. In the case of the Jews of Kaifeng, the separation is more recent, but on the other hand, the continuity of the tradition has been lost in that several generations ago all of them had ceased to practise Judaism.